Kite and process of making same



H. B. HOLTVOIGT. KITE AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME. APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 191.9.

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Iv 1y Eatentefl Apr. 20, 1920.

UNKT'FJD STATE .PATEJ. if @FFICE.

HENRY B. I-IOLTVOIGT, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

KITE AND PBQCESS {)F MAKING SAME.

Application filed November 12, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. Hourvorer, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Kites and Processes ofMaking Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to kites and more particularly to a folding orcollapsible type having fixed engaging elements secured in fixedrelation one with the other whereby the sticks may be subsequentlyattached to the cover or body portion of the kite without the necessityof special adjustment or fitting.

While the invention has been shown as applied to a kite of the Eddy typewhich is the preferred construction, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to this character of kite but may be applied tothe hexagonal or other shape of kite.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and operation of assembling folding or collapsible kites wherebythey will not only be cheapcned in construction, but will be moreefficient in use, easily and quickly assembled, strong and durable, andunlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide stick engaging socketsor attachment elements fixedly attached in predetermined spaced relationupon an endless or continuous band or loop of string or cable formingthe margin of the kite cover or body whereby the ultimate positions andrelation of the kite sticks will be accurately and positively determinedat the time of manufacture. Such construction is designed to enable theflier of the kite to assemble the same without the necessity ofmeasurements or fitting operation, and whereby the proper .relation ofthe parts. in the assembled kite is absolutely assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofstrut or stick connection with means for permanently attaching it to theendless or continuous marginal strings or band and to provide animproved form of interconnection at the intersection of the struts orsticks.

With the above primary and other incildental objects in view as willmore fully'ap- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Serial No. 337,596.

pear in the specification, the invention con- 'sists of the features ofconstruction, the

parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or theirequivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of the assembledkite embodying the invention forming the subject matter hereof. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the strut sockets or stick engaging elements detachedfrom the kite structure. Figs. f and 5 are detail perspective views ofthe ends of the strut or stick showing the socket member thereon in reverse position, with aportion of the endless marginal band and thetransverse tie wire connected therewith. Fig. 6 is'a detail view ofinter-connecting members for the intersection of the strut or stick.Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the struts or sticks connected bythe member shown in Fi 6. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the socket lockingmeans.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughoutthe several views.

As illustrated in the drawing the kite there shown of the Eddy typecomprises two sticks or struts 1 and 2 arranged at rightangles one tothe other and interconnected at their intersection by a coupling memberas shown in 6. This coupling member 3 comprises a flat sheet metalelement having therein rectangular opening 4 through which thetransverse strut 2 is to be projected. At one end the element 3 isprovided with 'a sharpened extremity or point to be driven through thlongitudinal strut 1 from the front or face side thereof and clenchedupon the rear side. The opposite end of the coupling member 8 isprovided with a small hole 5 for the attachment of the bellyband ashereafter described after the kite has been assembled and the edge ofthe coupling member containing the hole 5 has been pressed through thepaper cover of the kite. Supported upon. the struts 1 and 2 is a papercover 6 of suitable shape and proportion having inclosed in the marginaledges thereof a continuous or endless band or loop of string or cord, 7.Located at proper spaced intervals corresponding with the angles of thekite cover, and permanently secured to the marginal cord 7 at the timeof manufacture are a plurality of sockets or strut engaging elements 8.These sockets or strut engaging elements are shown in detall in Fig.3.They comprise a rectangular receptacle-like body having a bottom section9 the inner edge of which is bent downwardly and backwardly upon itselfto form a clamping finger 10, for engagement with the marginal band orcord 7 of the kite cover. Proj ecting perpendicularly to the bottomsection 9 are side walls 11 from which extend upwardly projectingfingers. or tines 12. These fingers or tines 12 are to be later clenchedor bent downward over the ends of the struts or sticks. There is alsoprovided an end or terminal wall 13 from which projects an outwardly anddownwardly extending finger or tine 14 for engagement with the cross orbow stay hereafter mentioned.

In constructing the kite the cover section or sail is laid upon a formor table and the strut sockets or engaging elements such as shown inFig. 3 are positioned in predetermined relation one with the other uponthe table or form. This is effected by means of suitable guides such asstuds or pins or location fingers or even guide marks upon the tableorform. Preferably, however, the table or form is provided with some formof holding device by which these socket members may be held in theiradjusted positions. Such a device is shown in Fig. 8 in which 15 is thetable or form and 16 a finger or stop secured to the table under thefree end of which the strut socket member is to be engaged as indicatedin the figure.

The strut engaging members having been located in their predeterminedspaced rela tion by whatever means may be employed. the cord or marginalband 7 is passed around such located strut socket by being introducedbeneath the bottom 9 of the socket intermediate such bottom and the backturned flap or extension 10. Having been engaged intermediate the bottom8.) and back turned flap 10 of each of the strut sockets the marginalband 7 is drawn tight and the ends are secured together by tying or bybeing passed in opposite directions under one of the socket members and.subsequently clamped by the compression of the cover or sail 8 are theninturned over the endless marginal band 7, pasted or cemented so as toinclose such marginal band.

Upon disengagement from the table or form the sail or cover will becomplete with the marginal band inclosed therein and the strut socketspositioned at the angles of the cover or sail and securely fixed theretoagainst slippage or variation of their relation one to another. Aftersecuring the ends of the marginal string or band '7 to form the endlessloop a free end of the string is purposely left of sufiicient length tosubsequently form the bellyband or bridle. The sharpened point of thecoupling member 3 having been driven through the longitudinal strut 1 atthe proper point, and the extremity of the coupling member beingclenched the manufacture of the kite is complete andit is ready fortransportation. In driving the coupling member through the strut 1 it'isinserted until the edge of the eye a is flush with the face or frontside of the strut 1 whereby the transverse strut 2 inserted through sucheye will contact with the face of the strut 1.

Upon the purchase or receipt of the kite by the ultimate flier thetransverse strut 2 is passed through the eye t of the cow pling memberand the ends of the struts 1 and 2 are positioned in the correspondingstrut sockets. These sockets being opened to the rear the strut may belaid therein loosely without subjecting the cover or sail to strain ortension. The fingers 12 of the several strut sockets are then clenchedover the ends of the struts or sticks l and 2. The perforated projectingportion of the coupling member 3 is then caused to )enetrate the coveror sail 8 and the bellyioand or bridle shown by dotted lines 17 in Fig.1 is secured at one end through the perforation 5 in the coupling member2-3 and at its opposite end to the member 8 at the lower end of theupright strut 1. Preferably this bridle or bellyband 17 is a continuationof the marginal string or band 7 which has been joined beneaththe socket member at the lower end of the strut 1.

lVith the addition of a transverse tie or bow stay 1S which ispreferably provided with loops at each end to be engaged over theoutturned fingers or tines 14 of the lateral strut socket, the kite iscomplete. For economy and simplicity of manufacture the same form ofstrut socket having the out ward turned fingers 14: is employed in allpositions although at the top and bottom or opposite ends of thevertical strut 1 the outturned fingers 14- perform no function. Thesemay therefore be omitted from the socket members used in such positions.

In packing the kite for storage or shipment the cover or sail may bewrapped around the struts 1 and 2 and the bow stay 18 and held incompact form by twining the bridle or bellyband 17 about the package.

As thus constructed the kite may be readily and quickly assembled byboys having little or no mechanical skill or training. The permanentlocation and engagement of the socket members upon the marginal band '7insures the accurate positioning of the struts 1 and 2. The use of thesesockets or strut engaging elements and the form of coupling element 8enables the kite to be quickly assembled without the use of specialtools. Socket members are formed from sufiiciently light sheet metalthat the fingers 12 may be clenched or bent downward by the fingers orwith the aid of a knife or small stone. The assembly of the kite is thuswithin the skill of the small boy.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

WVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdetails shown but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. A kite comprising anendless string loop, a plurality of strut sockets each hav ing a lateralopen side, fixedly attached to the loop in predetermined spacedrelation, a sail attached to said loop and struts laterally insertiblewithin said sockets through the open sides thereof in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the lineal extent of the strut.

2. A kite comprising a sail, a plurality of laterally open socketsattached in spaced relation to said sail and struts laterally insertiblewithin said sockets in a direction angular to the lineal. extent of thestrut.

3. In a kite the combination with a sail and supporting struts of meansfor attach ing the struts to the sail comprising flexible fingersattached to the sail in predetermined spaced relation and adapted to beclenched over the ends of the struts.

4. In a kite the combination with a sail and supporting struts thereforof flexible fingers arranged in pairs and supported in spaced relationby the kite sail between which the ends of the struts are to beinserted, said fingers being capable of being clenched over the strutsto retain same in adjusted positions.

A kite strut socket comprising a receptacle having a bottom, oppositeside and one end walls, flexible fingers projecting from the side wallsadapted to be bent over the strut to retain the same within the socket,and means for fixedly attaching the same to the kite sail.

6. In a kite, the combination with a sail and supporting struts, of aplurality of pairs of flexible fingers between which the struts are tobe engaged and adapted to be clenched over the positioned struts, a cordto which the pairs of flexible fingers are attached in predeterminedspaced relation, and a sail attached to said cord.

7 A kite strut socket comprising a receptacle having a bottom, oppositeside and one end. walls, extensions on the side walls to be folded overthe inserted strut, and a downwardly and outwardly" extending flexiblefinger projecting from the bottom section at the open end of thereceptacle, and adapted to be clenched over a cord to retain the socketmembers in predetermined spaced relation thereon.

8. In a kite the combination with a sail and supporting struts ofsockets to receive the ends of the struts, flexible tongues carried bysaid sockets, and a marginal cord supporting the sail over which theflexible tongues are clenched to fix said sockets in spaced relationthereon.

9. In a kite the combination with a sail and transversely arrangedsupporting struts therefor of a coupling member comprising a flatpointed sheet metal bit driven into one strut and having therein anopening through which the other strut is extended.

10. In a kite the combination with a sail and transversely arrangedsupporting struts therefor of a coupling member comprising a perforatedsheet metal member carried by one of the struts through the perforationof which the other strut extends, said coupling member being projectedthrough the sail to form an attachment for the kite bridle.

11. In a kite the combination with a sail and transversely arrangedsupporting struts therefor of a couplin member comprising a bridleattachment member extending through the kite sail and on opposite sidesof one of the struts and fixedly engaged with another strut beyond thefirst mentioned strut.

12. In a kite the combination with a sail and transversely arrangedsupporting struts therefor of a coupling member comprising a flat bit ofsheet metal having therein an orifice agreeing substantially in shapeand proportions with the cross sectional dimensions of one of the strutsto be coupled, said bit being pointed at one side of the orifice forengagement in one of the struts and being perforated at the oppositeside of the orifice for the engagement of the bridle.

13. The herein described method of mak ing a kite comprising locating aplurality of separate strut engaging elements in predetermined spacedrelation, positively connecting the strut engaging elements one Withanother by means of a flexible cord extended from one element to anotherin regular succession, attaching a sail to said cord, and finallyengaging the struts With said ele- 15 ments. 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day ofNovember A. D. 1919.

HENRY B. HOLTVOIGT.

lVitnesses WILLIAM A. SWANEY, GEORGE C. HELMIG.

